Lighting

A thief will do everything they can to avoid being seen. A home without lights on and surrounded by darkness indicates that not only is the house empty but neighbours are unlikely to see anyone approaching.

Consider the following lighting advice for your home :

• Lights are always a good deterrent and we would always recommend the front of the house is lit by a light on a photo-electric (dusk to dawn) sensor. This gives a welcoming appearance for you when returning home after dark but it also allows you to see visitors as they approach the house.

• The rear area can be lit by either dawn to dusk sensors or PIR (Passive Infra Red or commonly known as movement detectors). Blinding floodlights are not necessary - enough light to safely illuminate the area is all that is needed.

• Bulbs should be modern low-wattage "energy saving" types costing pennies a week to run.

• Use tier switches to turn on internal lights and possibly a radio automatically to make it appear as though someone is at home.